Offenbach Cello Duets Op.49, #1-6 & Op.50, #1-3-"The Gift of Melody"

A classy, melodious set of cello duets composed by Jacques Offenbach that wonderfully feature the orchestra's most emotional instrument, with which these cellists, Christopher and Drummond, have stepped up to the plate and knocked a home run.

Genre: Classical: Traditional

Release Date: 2004

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ABOUT THIS ALBUM

This CD marks the first known recording of these Offenbach opus numbers. One would not expect to hear cello duets from this composer. These cello duet numbers were composed more than 124 years ago.

This recording's memorable sound of a small-room performance was achieved by applying the "3 Second Theater" choice provided in the digital sound engineering software, among other technological tweaks in the mastering/mixing software.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER, JACQUES OFFENBACH (1819-1880)___

Jacques Offenbach, son of a German cantor, is known as the father of French Operetta, most notably for the tune "Can Can" from his Orpheus in the Underworld. Less known is that he was a child virtuoso cellist.

ABOUT THE CELLISTS ___

Paul Christopher was born in 1959 in Syracuse, New York. He plays a modern cello built particularly for him by the husband-and-wife team of cello makers "Moes and Moes" in Stamford, Connecticut. He earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Master of Music in Violoncello Performance degree from the University of Memphis. He is Principal Cellist for the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO), the Shreveport Opera, Longview Symphony Orchestra (Longview, TX) and most recently won a prestigious position with the Nashville String Machine.

Ruth Drummond was born in 1951 in Shelbyville, Kentucky. She plays an Italian cello built circa 1750 in Milan, which carries an official certification by Dario D'Attili. She earned the Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Kentucky. She is Principal Cellist for the Shreveport Summer Music Festival, the Baroque Artists of Shreveport and is a devoted, integral member of the SSO.

ABOUT HUMAN METRONOME ___

Human Metronome was founded in Shreveport, Louisiana by amateur cellists Helen and Beecher Wood. The Woods' love of the cello and their own "at home" cello duets, their cello lessons from Paul Christopher and their periodic hosting of various small chamber music recitals by the pros, inspired them to launch their own classical music record label. The Gift of Melody is their inaugural product.

Human Metronome is an ideal example of entrepreneurial achievement in music production. The CD, while produced on a small budget, was created using distinguished professional cellists and sound engineers.

This recording is not only a unique collection of Offenbach but it is fantastic in technique and musicality! Paul Christopher and Ruth Drummond are a fantastic Duo! I would recommend this recording for everyone who embraces nothing but
perfection!

This is the most beautiful music I can imagine. The cello sings right into my innermost being and I am at peace inspite of the violence of todays world. It makes me want to learn the cello so that I can experience what it is like to do something as wonderful as this.

You can't believe how happy I am to have found this recording! Since discovering these works I have been on a mission to obtain the sheet music and recordings for the entire "Cours Methodique". I have achieved the latter and I now find that on reading the CD insert these performers are planning to record the full series. Fantastic! I will definitely be buying them when they become available.

The Offenbach Cello duets are a marvellous treat - this edition has the first, and easiest duets in the series, and give a preview of all the wonderful vocal music that Offenbach would write. Members of the Offenbach Society are very grateful to have this recording treat.

I am am amatuer cello player and was just recently introduced to the wonderful music of Offenbach when assigned one of the Op.49 pieces by my instructor. The recording was such a delightful way to understand how beautiful the duets can sound.

Listening to this lovely recording of beutiful and hitherto almost inaccessible pieces of Offenbach's cello music is pure enjoyment. Many thanks to the artists and to all concerned, and please, keep your promise to do more of them!

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